Holiday story ideas: Smart toy safety, managing holiday stress, economics of Christmas music, and more

Eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday

From electricity usage to piles of presents, and an overload of food, this time of year can take a toll on the environment. Virginia Tech sustainability expert, Jennifer Russell is available to share tips on having a more sustainable holiday season. More here.

Strategies for managing holiday stress and anxiety

The holiday season is often an overwhelming experience for many individuals. The combination of gift shopping, travel arrangements, and the expected anxiety of family and friends can create very stressful situations. Virginia Tech psychologist Rosanna Breaux shares her most effective tips for navigating seasonal stress. More here.

The real price of being “Home Alone”

The 1990 holiday classic “Home Alone” is more than mere slapstick and booby traps, it’s a film about the economy. Now grown up, once childhood viewers begin questioning the size of the mortgage, the bill for the large family international flight, and just how much Kevin’s grocery store visit of $19.89 would cost today accounting for inflation. For example Kevin’s family orders 10 large pizzas from Little Nero’s Pizza for $122.50 (plus tip). Today that would be $281.12. Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten is available to explain why and break down thirty years of price changes. More in his weekly blog post, Monday Morning Economist.

The economics of Christmas music

It’s officially December, and you know what that means—the air is filled with the festive sounds of carolers, and classic Christmas tunes are taking over department store sound systems. But as you navigate through the aisles listening to popular hits from Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, keep an ear out for something intriguing—classic Christmas songs reimagined by today’s favorite artists. Virginia Tech expert Jadrian Wooten is available to explain the economics of Christmas music and why the money lies in reimagining the familiar versus creating new songs. More here.

What parents should know about ‘smart toys’ and data security

The growing smart toy market puts millions of toys with computing power and audio and visual recording capability in children’s hands. Parents considering digital toy gifts for Christmas or Hanukkah should be aware of the data collection that these toys perform and how to better protect their children’s privacy in this new domain. Information security experts France Belanger and Donna Wertalik, co-founders of Voices of Privacy, share guidance for parents. More here.

Horticulture agent offers tips on winter holiday plant acquisition and care

Traditional winter holiday plants such as poinsettia, holiday cacti, or amaryllis can add vital color to your interior décor. Horticulture agent Ed Olsen with Virginia Cooperative Extension offers guidance for how to select plants at the store and take care of them at home. Read more here.

Instead of calories and macros, think about the level of food processing, expert says

Scientific consensus is building around a clear recommendation: To improve health, we need to think differently about our diet of ultra-processed foods. Rather than focus on calories or macronutrients, consider how the food you eat has been physically and chemically modified, says Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, an assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and associate director of the research institute’s Center for Health Behaviors Research. More here.

Food safety tips for the season of sugar-plums

Once the big holiday feast is over, for how long is it safe to hang onto the leftovers? Will they keep their flavor if you put them in the freezer? Do candies and confections made during the holiday season need to be refrigerated? Melissa Wright, director of Virginia Tech’s Food Producer Technical Assistance Network, shares holiday food safety tips of many sorts. Read more here and here.

Managing tough topics at family gatherings

Holiday gathers bring family together, but conservations can be tense when loved ones disagree on issues of the day. Virginia Tech expert Todd Schenk says those conversations should not be avoided, but rather respectfully managed. “I would suggest explicitly seeking agreement among the parties that you are going to ‘go there’ and perhaps set aside a time for doing so.” Read more here.

Forget the resolution, focus on mindfulness & behavioral interventions in the New Year

As 2023 comes to a close and 2024 approaches, many people will be thinking about how to reset goals and make lifestyle changes. Individuals often set challenging resolutions and tend to lose motivation as time progresses. Instead of making a resolution, Virginia Tech behavioral psychologist Samantha Harden suggests a different approach in the new year – mindfulness and behavioral interventions.